GOP holding up benefits for jobless

Richard C. Trenkler, Las Vegas

Monday, June 21, 2010 | 2:04 a.m.

I warned of it in letters to the editor in April and this month that without an unemployment benefits extension, our economy would implode. Nevada is now has the highest unemployment rate in the nation. The unemployment benefits extension is still held up and thus our economy contracts evermore. Even if it were to pass, the plan does not address unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed, whose numbers grow.

No, helping our fellow Americans and the economy in general is held up by the austerity police. Republicans in the Senate, as a bloc, stall any help to those in need. With falling receipts, more government austerity will be called for and more people will be laid off. Their loss of income will trickle down through the economy, spurring more layoffs and foreclosures.

How long will people listen to the Party of No? The Party of No brought us deregulation of finance and industry, leading to the Wall Street and Gulf disasters, both actions destroying the livelihoods of millions. The Party of No nickel-and-dimed the stimulus package against the advice of economists in the name of austerity.

How long will people continue to ignore the advice of economists who call for continuation of short-term stimulus? How long will Nevada continue with the same old conservative way of doing business? If this way was so great, how come there are not hordes of businesses coming from “evil” California? Folks, without change, the situation will continue to feed itself. Pretty soon we will austerity ourselves out of existence.